By : Arabella
Two years ago at the end of our delightful summer trip in the Med we left Arabella boat in a marina in Izmir, Turkey. Now fourteen months later we escaped covid-19 as well as the lockdown and traveled back to Turkey where we would explore the mediterranean yet again but much slower and in more depth and detail.
We arrived at Istanbul airport and it felt like a desert, there was barely anybody there and it was boiling. That’s barely the start of this historical journey so I will now bring you from arriving in Turkey to now when we start exploring the fascinating countries surrounding the encapsulating Mediterranean. This journey includes the captivating coast of the Turkish, the irresistible islands and ruins of the Greeks and the flavourful foods and dishes of Italy and Spain.
After fixing up Arabella from its rough stay in the marina, having literally fought a tsunami there, we launched her back into the ocean where she spent most of her life. This is also where our exotic though sometimes chaotic mediterranean journey away from the city society and away from the chaos eventually began and that moment started there and then.
The first country I’ll be talking about is Turkey. Turkey is a very historical country full of ancient ruins, mouthwatering desserts and dishes and last but not least the quantity of mosques there are. Other than the 80,000 mosques in Turkey, there is also a great number of people who follow Islam. The word Islam means “submission to the will of god”. Followers of Islam are called Muslims, more that 95% of people in Turkey are Muslims and about 80% of them are Sunnis. In all of the Mediterranean countries, Turkey is the only country that is Muslim and you can tell by their architecture and clothing. Unlike the other countries and places in the Mediterranean, some of the Muslims wear burqas. Burqas are a loose enveloping garment that covers the face and body and is worn in public by certain Muslim women.
Since we were on the topic of Turkish architecture, I’m now going to elaborate on that. Turkish architecture reached its peak during the Ottoman period. Ottoman architecture, influenced by Seljuk, Byzantine and Arab architecture, came to develop a style all of its own. What is the Ottoman period though? Over a time span of six hundred years, from about 1300 to 1923, the Ottoman Empire expanded into the largest political entity in Europe and western Asia and then was defeated and disappeared into the pages of history. If I zoom in to a smaller picture and only focus on the mosques then I would see that they enjoy adding in dome-like roofs with points on the top and usually a portico just like the ancient and present Greeks, that is one of the similarities in architectural features for these two countries. Other than that one resemblance, there are a couple more including pillars, beams etc… They also have many arches that are used to connect the towers. There are many ancient ruins, though the one taking most of that credit is Ephesus, an ancient Greek city home to some of the most famous ancient buildings in Europe. Ephesus was first built in 1000 B.C. and has been rebuilt a couple of times. There is a library called the library of Celsus. It was built in 110 A.D., and the facade has been reconstructed by archeologists and is in very good condition. The library was built to store 12,000 scrolls and to function as a tomb for Celsus. Celsus is buried in a coffin beneath the library’s main entrance. When we were exploring Ephesus it was deserted because of covid. We were so lucky because we had the whole place to ourself when it would usually be crowded and squished.
Aside from architecture, Turkey is also famous for its wonderful food! Turkey is famous for many things and food is definitely one of them. Let’s start off sweet with Turkey’s most famous dish, baklava . Dating back to the Ottoman Empire, baklava is one of the most iconic Turkish dishes and is perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth. This layered pastry is filled with nuts, has ground pistachios and is covered with a scrumptious syrup. With this delicious mixture of flavors and textures it’s sure to be an unforgettable Mediterranean dessert. Other than their sweets they also have their savories. Döner kebab is one of Turkey’s many national dishes. The döner offers the same choices and types of meat as Şiş kebabs which is a type of kebab that is grilled over charcoal and has a wooden or metal skewer pierced through it. The döner kebab is then seasoned with herbs and spices and cooked on a vertical, rotating spit also known as a rotisserie. Fresh cuts are served in a bread wrap along with salad and garlic or spicy sauces. The sight of a kebab on my plate didn’t excite me anymore, we ate almost everyday now. But the baklava never became boring. Even if we ate it every day of the week I would still be asking for more!
Now how to start on Greece? Greece is one of the most ancient civilizations. From their food to their ruins, there are also many Greek cultures and traditions that are celebrated and most are familiar with. One of Greece’s many cultural traditions is the evil eye. A symbol of protection, the evil eye is referred to as μάτι (mati) in Greek. The concept and significance of the evil eye is especially well known in the Mediterranean and West Asia. Blue together with white, the colours of the evil eye. Blue and white are the traditional colours for good karma, positive energies, and protection against the evil eye. Since Greece had one of the most ancient civilizations, what were those communities’ building styles affecting present Greece and the whole world of architecture, structures and establishments? Well they may have invented many new techniques and building styles such as their pillars and beams. The most familiar types are the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian orders. The Doric order is most recognised by its simple circular capitals right on the top of the pillar. Next is the Ionic order. Known for its twisty spiraling shape called the volute that is placed right on the top of the beam, it also has rounded crevices going from the head of the pillar all the way to the foot of it. The last is the Corinthian order which is the most decorative of the three. It has thin little columns with grooves that run vertically up the side of the pillar. Characteristics of the Corinthian column is that it is decorated with acanthus leaves, flowers and sometimes small scrolls. When we visited the Acropolis in Athen, we saw all three styles of columns and mama explained to me what they were.
More than 98% of the Greeks are Christian orthodox. The only requirements for the Greeks were to believe that the gods existed and to perform sacrifices and rituals. Other than the Greek Orthodox Church, the rest of the population are Muslims, Roman Catholics, and Jewish.
Apart from Greeks religions, Greece is also popular for their tasty food. Let’s focus on the similarities and differences of cuisines in Greece, comparing them to those from Turkey, Spain and Italy. Starting off with one of its most popular dishes and known internationally for its exotic take on lasagna is the Moussaka. The moussaka consists of layers of fried aubergine, cheese, minced meat and potatoes, topped with a thick and creamy béchamel or white sauce and then baked evenly until golden brown and crisp on the edges. Moussaka is to the Greek what Lasagna is to Italians. A rich tomato meat sauce overlaid with eggplant instead of soft, chewy pasta sheets. Next on the list is Gyros. Similar or fundamentally the same to the döner kebab, the gyros is a Greek dish made from meat cooked on a revolving vertical rotisserie or spit. It is typically served wrapped in a flatbread known as pita, along with other fresh ingredients such as tomato, onion, potatoes, lettuce and a tzatziki dip. Tzatziki is a salted yogurt and cucumber dip and it’s very popular in Greece. They eat it with gyros, skewers, fries, bread, cucumber and carrot sticks and more. It is made of salted strained yogurt or diluted yogurt mixed with shredded cucumbers, garlic, salt, olive oil, sometimes with vinegar or lemon juice, and herbs such as dill, mint, parsley and thyme.
Off to Italy we go, to explore the mouthwatering food and its fascinating ruined and un-ruined places. The main religion in Italy is Roman Catholicism. Roman Catholics and other Christians make up 80% of their population. Italian culture is commonly associated with art, music, architecture, family and food, it also has a rich heritage in art, history, religion, architecture, cuisine and fashion. In Italian culture, families love socializing and celebrating often. Even on a regular day, they’ll meet in each other’s homes for dinner or go to a restaurant together. Food equals love and tradition, that is Italian culture.
The Italian flag consists of three colours, green, white and red. It goes from left to right and is vertically divided into three equal sections, the same as the French flag. The green, white and red, represents hope, faith and charity. Other than those, there are other interpretations including the green portraying the Italian landscape, the white portraying the snow capped alps and the red for the bloodshed that gave Italy its independence. The last one I know of is about Italy’s national food and most popular food, the pizza. Focusing on the most admired, popular and common pizza being the margherita pizza, The green stands for the basil that is sprinkled over the surface of the pizza giving it a beautiful pop of colour against the white cheese, the white representing the mozzarella cheese enclosing the surface of the sauce and last but not least the red representing the rich and fresh tomato sauce spread all around the dough. With all of those fresh and tasty ingredients including all that hard work, love and dedication put into the making of it, all of that finally gives way to your freshly baked pizza that gives off the smell and taste palate of its familiar, flavourful and authentic scent and taste. Pizza and pasta have spread around the world faster than any other food, it zipped to North and South America, Africa and Asia faster than light.
Relating to pizza, we also have pasta. Pasta is a staple food of Italian cuisine. Pasta is a type of food made from a mixture of flour, eggs, and water that is then formed into different shapes and sizes and then boiled in boiling hot water or baked in an oven. After being cooked, they mix in the sauce and toppings then top it off with some parmesan cheese or other cheeses. Moving onto something sweeter like Italy’s traditional dessert, Tiramisu. Tiramisu is a coffee-flavored Italian dessert. It is made of ladyfingers dipped in coffee, then layered with a whipped mixture of eggs, sugar, and mascarpone cheese, flavored with rich cocoa. A good tiramisu strikes a nice balance of being a bit sweet with a tad bit of bitterness infused into it. The sweetness comes from mildly sweetened mascarpone and the bitter flavor is from the espresso-soaked lady fingers.
Italy has a very wide-ranged architectural style. It is known for its considerable and fascinating architectural achievements, such as the construction of aqueducts, temples, the Colosseum and similar structures during ancient Rome. Architects placed significance on symmetry, proportion, geometry, and regularity of parts as demonstrated in classical Roman architecture.
The last country we visited in the Mediterranean, Spain. Spain has a variety of religions they practice but the most practiced is Catholicism. Other religions practised in Spain are Islam, Judaism, Protestantism and Hinduism, which have their own places of worship.
The culture of Spain is based on many different historical influences. Spain is famous around the world for Flamenco music and dancing, bullfights, Tapas, La Fiesta and many more. The Spanish love parties, they eat so late that restaurants don’t even open until 8:30pm which is almost when I go to bed. They like to stay up late and party then wake up late again. Spanish people are very nice and they treat you like you’re their family. During our month-long stay in Cartagena, Spain, we met so many kind people who brought us to different places and showed us their amazing cultures. They introduced us to new people to help us through our journey. Since we were going to spend quite a while in Spain, we started going to Spanish lessons so we could learn another language. It was so interesting and we even got to go to restaurants to see the different food Spaniards eat. That’s when I discovered my favorite Spanish dessert ever, Chocolate con Churros “Churros with Chocolate ”. Churros are a popular Spanish dessert. They are made with a simple choux pastry fried in hot oil. The dough is quite bland but the cinnamon sugar coated around it and the thick and rich hot chocolate dip makes the simplicity of the pastry seem so complex. Other than that splendid dessert, I also love Natillas de Leche (Spanish Custard) and Arroz con leche (Rice Pudding) and recommend them to anyone going to Spain. Same with Paella, it is a dish I would also suggest tasting. Many consider Paella as the National dish of Spain. Paella is a rice dish originally from Valencia. The dish takes its name from the wide, shallow traditional pan used to cook the dish on an open fire, “paella” being the word for a frying pan in Valencia’s regional language. The main ingredients in every paella dish are rice, saffron, chicken, and vegetables. From there, ingredients are different depending on the type of paella. Spain is not only known for paella but also tapas. A tapa is an appetizer or snack in Spanish cuisine. Tapas may be cold (such as mixed olives from their farmlands and cheese) or warm (such as chopitos, which are fried baby squid with fresh drops of lemon juice on top). In some bars and restaurants in Spain and across the globe, tapas have evolved into a more sophisticated and certified cuisine. Tapas can be combined to make a full appetizing meal. The word tapa means ‘lid’ and comes from the verb tapear, meaning ‘to cover’. Many people say that tapas came from when bar keepers began covering their customers drinks with a slice of bread, ham or even cheese to stop flies and dust from entering the drink.
Although the Mediterranean is big, the countries still share something in common. During the Roman Empire, the Mediterranean countries spread cultures and religions making them now share a very similar heritage. The Romans either invaded from land or came from ships that sailed across the sea from Rome. While they conquered, they also started trading goods such as metal, jewelry, food, crops and other native products. When you explore the countries in the Mediterranean, you can see many ancient ruins the Romans built during their fight for more land and their power over other civilizations and republics. These buildings made by the Romans influenced new styles of architecture and brought different ideas to those countries. I find it really interesting how when going from country to country they always seem so different but after digging for more information and going deeper and deeper into the historical facts and information you can see that they really do share so many commonalities. That includes the ingredients incorporated in their dishes, the spread of architecture and the religions they have.
Cruising through the Mediterranean and learning about all the different cultures and traditions they have is a blessing. It’s so fascinating how different countries have the same materials but can still make something so different and original out of it. The cultures I’ve learnt in the different places make me want to learn even more about them and wish to explore the Mediterranean yet again. There’s so much more that I am yet to explore and I’m so inquisitive about what other traditions there are in the other countries and if I can see a connection between them. I’m thrilled to carry on sailing and see what else we can learn along the way. What do people grow when they are on remote islands in the middle of the ocean? What new and exciting things will people build? What food will be invented later on? I don’t know but I sure am delighted to write, discover and study more about them. What do you want to know?